Ciaron Maher sprinters Mrs Chrissie and Recommendation to match motors in the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes at Caulfield

Electric Mrs Chrissie could pose a threat to Group 3 tearaway Recommendation when they clash again in the Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) on Saturday at Caulfield, her assistant trainer says.

Mrs Chrissie in full flight could pose a threat to stablemate Recommendation. Picture: Picture: Scott Barbour/Racing Photos via Getty Images

Electric Mrs Chrissie could pose a threat to Group 3 tearaway Recommendation when they clash again in the Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) on Saturday at Caulfield.

Recommendation, trained by Ciaron Maher, roared to startling seven-length victory in the Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) under a statuesque jockey Blake Shinn.

Shinn found the fastest way home in the straight, late on the card at rain-affected Caulfield, and capitalised aboard Recommendation.

In-form mare Mrs Chrissie produced a career peak to run third, half a length behind runner-up Party For Two in the Sir John Monash Stakes.

Assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said Mrs Chrissie warranted “a crack” on Saturday, despite stablemate Recommendation’s last start dominance.

“If he was to repeat or improve, hard to say (bridge the gap), you’d lean to no but she warrants to having a crack,” Turnbull said.

“She’s a progressive horse, she’s just claimed her first black type placing and she definitely warrants a crack at this race.”

The wide gate doesn't bother Hefel onboard MRS CHRISSIE 😤@cmaherracingpic.twitter.com/NfljdkXffA

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) May 4, 2024

Mrs Chrissie has been a model of consistency the past nine starts, with three wins, three seconds and a third. She finished fourth and fifth in the other two starts.

A slow start hampered put the five-year-old mare on the back foot in the Sir John Monash, which resulted in her being held up from the 600m to 250m.

“She was enormous, I’d say it was a career peak there albeit just stepped a bit slow,” Turnbull said.

“A similar race (Saturday), similar conditions, a little bit further, she warrants a go.”

Despite the confident push, Recommendation remains the benchmark on Saturday based on the strength of his first-up performance.

“I don’t think you ever expect a horse to win a Group race by seven lengths, no matter the time of year, or the class, because it’s hard to do,” Turnbull said.

“Caulfield was playing fairly lane orientated, I thought, and he was in the spot, maybe the margin was exaggerated by the track that day, but you still need to have the horse to do it.”

Lightly-raced rising five-year-old Recommendation has won seven of 17 starts and placed six times.

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🔸 Victorian-sired G3 Winner 🔹

Recommendation (ex Adviso) bolts in to score a 7l victory in the G3 Sir John Monash S. under @blake_shinn for @cmaherracing at @MelbRacingClub Caulfield 💥

He’s by @Woodside_Park’s Shalaa 👌🏻 Congratulations to all involved! pic.twitter.com/SE76IWdSXU

— TBV (@vicbreeders) July 13, 2024

Should he repeat the Monash performance in the Bletchingly then spring ambitions could be adjusted.

“He ran a decent figure for him on our ratings system and if he improves, which he should,” Turnbull said.

“He went there off one jumpout and a couple of soft pieces of work and that might be the way to train him, maybe less is more.

“I don’t think we get ahead of ourselves, we are winter, it’s a Group 3, we know he’s a genuine Group 3, Group 2 horse. Blake was positive in the sense that, if he kept improving and was conditioned enough, he might make a really nice Brisbane (winter) horse next year.

“I’d say one race at a time, because we’re very mindful of his level, but as we have seen in the past, with the likes of Buffering, these sprinting geldings, sometimes, they just get better with age.”

Originally published as Ciaron Maher sprinters Mrs Chrissie and Recommendation to match motors in the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes at Caulfield